Once upon a time not too long ago (in fact when I first started this blog just 5 years ago), I did not consider myself a runner. I ran. It was typically for exercise purposes only. It was what I considered distances too short for a "real" runner.
Even after I fell in love with running and found myself upping the distances, I still refused to say, "I'm a runner." Somehow I thought it was a term reserved for a special group, people who had been running much longer, people who raced often, people who seemed more dedicated somehow. Just ... other runners basically.
I didn't feel that I knew all the lingo that I really walked the walk. I felt like an outsider. Honestly, I don't remember when I finally got my head out of my ass and realized that I was, in fact, a runner. I think that there was this weird notion that if I finally admitted it, then there was no going back (there kind of isn't), so what if I changed my mind suddenly (which I didn't of course).
I think there are ALL sorts of reasons why runners run and ALL sorts of points in time when we say, "Hey, I AM a runner." And, as you know, it is Fun for Friday. So without further ado:
Even after I fell in love with running and found myself upping the distances, I still refused to say, "I'm a runner." Somehow I thought it was a term reserved for a special group, people who had been running much longer, people who raced often, people who seemed more dedicated somehow. Just ... other runners basically.
I didn't feel that I knew all the lingo that I really walked the walk. I felt like an outsider. Honestly, I don't remember when I finally got my head out of my ass and realized that I was, in fact, a runner. I think that there was this weird notion that if I finally admitted it, then there was no going back (there kind of isn't), so what if I changed my mind suddenly (which I didn't of course).
I think there are ALL sorts of reasons why runners run and ALL sorts of points in time when we say, "Hey, I AM a runner." And, as you know, it is Fun for Friday. So without further ado:
You might be a runner if ...
- You don't think there's anything crazy about running at dark-thirty AM.
- When you start saying things like "only" x number of miles.
- When you know what 400s, 800s, hills, tempos and fartleks are.
- You get excited when it's 45-50 degrees for a morning run even if you find those temps freezing any other time.
- You own more pairs of running socks than "regular" socks.
- You have a drawer dedicated to said running socks, which usually includes multiple pairs of brightly colored compression socks.
- You have an entire section of a closet, a drawer, or maybe a basket dedicated to your running gear (blinky lights, gloves, various hats and headbands for each season, running glasses, spibelts, RoadIDs).
- There is a drawer in the kitchen dedicated to gels, chomps, bites, protein bars, energy bars and the like.
- You get jealous when you see someone else running, even if you have already run.
- You get excited about silly things like thumb holes in long-sleeved running tops.
- You say you hate racing but keep finding yourself miraculously signed up for multiple events throughout the year.
- When driving down the highway watching mile markers tick by, you think, I could run that distance no biggy (especially sitting idle in traffic) and sometimes you daydream about running on the frontage roads if it's an area where they are more scenic.
- You actually plan running routes prior to your vacation.
What's one sure sign YOU'RE a runner? Did you dig your heels in and deny that title too?
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